Battle of Osmotherly

The Battle of Osmotherly (120 AD) was a battle fought between the Iceni tribe and the Roman Empire in present-day North Yorkshire, England. The 238 Iceni warriors of Micheil MacAoidh wiped out Scapha Sejanus' 126 Roman troops, killing every last Roman soldier with 38 losses.

Battle
In 120 AD, Scapha Sejanus was dispatched with 126 Roman troops from the city of Eburacum (present-day York, England) to patrol the area and ensure that the Iceni tribe stayed away from the Roman city. Micheil MacAoidh, a chief of the Iceni tribe, led a band of 238 Iceni warriors consisting of his cavalry, ambushers (men armed with spears and swords), and a group of javelinmen to ambush the Roman force, hoping to scare the Romans into leaving England forever. Sejanus' army could not detect the ambushers, and they believed that they were only facing cavalry and javelinmen. However, the ambushers attacked them from the side as they focused on defending against the cavalry and javelinmen. Micheil constantly avoided being slain, leading the Romans towards his ambushers whenever they tried to break away from the melee. Sejanus charged into melee with the Iceni warriors, and he was cut down along with almost all of his bodyguards. The Roman army proceeded to rout from the field, but the Iceni chased them down and massacred all of the survivors. All 126 Romans were killed with only 38 Iceni warriors dying. This battle, more of a massacre, was a propaganda victory for the Iceni over the Romans.